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Photo: Cartier
A panther curled around your wrist, a zebra racing down your decolletage, two serpents slithering over your collarbones, and a flamingo grazing among reeds… Cartier has done it again.
A wizard of expressing the most flamboyant creatures of the animal kingdom in all forms — figuratively, stylistically and graphically, the French maison captures the true essence of the wild in its latest high jewellery collection, Nature Sauvage.
Jacqueline Karachi, Cartier’s director of high jewellery creation, eloquently describes the collection: “A new perspective on the Cartier animals to surprise, amaze and bring modernity by way of unexpected encounters. Expressive jewellery which showcases the attitudes and personality of an animal, its vitality. Like an actor, it plays with graphics, with volume and optical illusions, blending into an imaginary landscape.”
Koaga necklace
The Koaga necklace featuring a diamond-and-onyx Zebra holding precious stones in its mouth (Photo: Cartier)
As breathtaking as it is commanding attention, this creation evokes the majesty and vigour of a zebra, an animal dear to Cartier. Precise stylised lines define its stripes, profile, ears, and muzzle, creating a graphic play of alternating diamonds and onyx. In the zebra’s mouth is an emerald-cut diamond and a mesmerising 6.25-carat pear-shaped rubellite, which adds a striking focal point to the design.
Panthere Jaillissante hand jewellery
The Panthere Jaillissante hand jewellery is a brilliant expression of the form and ferocity of the wild cat (Photo: Cartier)
A hybrid jewel that exudes magnetic elegance, this fully articulated ring-bracelet is designed to add a wild energy to even the smallest gestures. Its suppleness, achieved through a true feat of craftsmanship, reinforces the persona of the lithe yet powerful feline, which appears ready to pounce. Its piercing gaze is realised by emeralds, and its coat by diamonds specked with blue sapphires. Beware, anyone who dares get too close to the captivating 8.63-carat Zambian emerald the panther is guarding.
Mochelys necklace
An exquisite turtle takes shape in its entirety on this creation flaunting an incredible rubellite (Photo: Cartier)
Showcasing Cartier’s flair for surprise and creativity, this piece appears to be an abstract necklace at first glance. Examine it closely, as anyone would, and a turtle emerges into view. The sea creature holds a stunning 7.90-carat rubellite, and can be detached and transformed into a statement brooch. The superb craftsmanship imparts intricacy to the shape, volume and scales of the turtle’s shell, which is set with multi-coloured gems, while the other naturalistic features are open to your interpretation.
Amphista necklace
The flamingo takes the spotlight on this elaborate creation adorned with emeralds and aquamarines (Photo: Cartier)
Poetic, joyful and splendid, this showpiece is reminiscent of an emblematic brooch made for the Duchess of Windsor in 1940. Taking pride of place is a graceful pink flamingo, a species frequently depicted in Cartier’s creations. Boasting a beak in black lacquer and rose gold, the bird takes shape within a stylied landscape of emerald reeds and aquamarine waters. The harmonious balance of blue and green continues Cartier’s legacy of chromatic intensity, culminating in an impressive 38.50-carat aquamarine set in a pendant.
Celestun necklace
Combining organic and geometric forms, this serpent-led design also features a chromatic composition of rare emeralds (Photo: Cartier)
Sinuous and symmetrical, this audaciously voluptuous masterpiece features two snakes with remarkably lifelike diamond and emerald scales. Their heads crowned with beautiful kite diamonds, the serpents slither towards a geometric composition of emeralds that entrance with their chromatic intensity. The nine showpiece Colombian emeralds are octagonal-shaped and total an impressive 14.72 carats.
